GDT: 6/29/08 - DET (40-40) VS COL(32-49) - 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- If the Tigers are going to pull off a monumental rally and make the playoffs, first they need to become a winning ballclub.

That can officially happen in Sunday afternoon's series finale with the Rockies. A Tigers win would give them a winning record for the first time this season. It would also give them 17 wins in their last 21 games and a third three-game sweep in the three weeks.

"That's pretty good from where we were before," manager Jim Leyland said.

A win would end the Tigers' Interleague Play record at 12-5. Since 2006, the Tigers have been one of the best teams in the Major Leagues in Interleague Play. They own a 41-12 Interleague record during that span, which ranks second behind the Red Sox.

By earning a winning record, the Tigers could clear a psychological hurdle and start placing the frustrations of a puzzling season behind them:

The 0-7 start.

The disgruntled fans.

The baffling slumps and nagging injuries.

While a winning record wouldn't erase the disappointment, it would help put it in the rearview mirror. Because if the Tigers wish to continue their winning ways, they can't, as Leyland loves to say, chew on yesterday's breakfast.

"I'm worried about playing good baseball and maximizing the ability of this team," Leyland said. "If we do that, we'll be over .500 when it's done."


Interleague record: 112-98 overall, 12-5 in 2008

2008 Interleague schedule
• May 16 at Diamondbacks: Lost, 4-3
• May 17 at Diamondbacks: Won, 3-2
• May 18 at Diamondbacks: Lost, 4-0
• June 13 vs. Dodgers: Won, 5-0
• June 14 vs. Dodgers: Won, 12-7 SWEPT SERIES
• June 15 vs. Dodgers: Won, 5-4
• June 16 at Giants: Lost, 8-6
• June 17 at Giants: Won, 5-1
• June 18 at Giants: Won, 7-2 WIN SERIES
• June 20 at Padres: Lost 2-6
• June 20 at Padres: Won 7-5
• June 22 at Padres: Won, 5-3 WIN SERIES
• June 24 vs. Cardinals: Lost 4-8
• June 24 vs. Cardinals: WON 8-7
• June 24 vs. Cardinals: WON 3-2 WIN SERIES
• June 27 vs. Rockies: WON 7-1
• June 28 vs. Rockies: WON 7-6 WIN SERIES - SWEEP?
• June 29 vs. Rockies

Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Kenny Rogers (5-5, 4.60 ERA)
Rogers had allowed just four earned runs over 36 innings in his previous five starts before the Cardinals charged him for five runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings, handing Rogers his first loss since May 15 and his first Interleague defeat since he joined the Tigers three years ago. He had allowed a lone run over his first 4 2/3 innings before a Brian Barton homer sent him laboring to finish the fifth before three hits chased him in the sixth. He'll try to start a new winning streak against a Rockies lineup that hits about 10 points against left-handers compared with right-handers this year.

COL: RHP Greg Reynolds (2-5, 5.68 ERA)
In his last start, Reynolds had no secondary pitches working but found a way to last seven innings and hold the Mets to three runs in a 3-1 loss at Coors Field. It was a step forward for Reynolds, who adjusted by relying on his sinking fastball and showing just enough of a curveball to keep hitters honest. He is not a strikeout pitcher, but he has six against one walk in his last two starts.


Tidbits

The Tigers will rest second baseman Placido Polanco and catcher Ivan Rodriguez for Sunday's series finale. Leyland said that Michael Hollimon will start at second and Dane Sardinha will make his second career start behind the plate. He added that Marcus Thames will play left field and Clete Thomas in right. Curtis Granderson's 0-for-3 performance on Saturday snapped a career-high 15-game hitting streak. ... According to a Sports Illustrated poll, Polanco is the most underrated player in baseball. Polanco received 12 percent of the votes from the 495 Major League players surveyed. ... When Rodriguez caught Willy Tavaras stealing on Saturday, it marked just the third time that Tavaras has been caught this year in 39 attempts. ... Former Tigers reliever Jason Grilli made his first appearance against his old club. The sellout crowd booed his entrance and cheered every ball he threw. After allowing a one-out single to Thames, he got Gary Sheffield to hit into an inning-ending double play.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Mon., June 30: Tigers (RHP Armando Galarraga, (7-2, 3.32 ERA)) at Twins (LHP Glen Perkins (4-2, 4.47 ERA)), 8:10 p.m. ET

• Tue., July 1: Tigers (LHP Nate Robertson (6-6, 5.23) ERA)) at Twins (RHP Scott Baker (4-2, 3.57 ERA)), 8:10 p.m. ET

• Wed., July 2: Tigers (RHP Eddie Bonine (2-0, 3.98 ERA)) at Twins (TBA), 1:10 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS

Colorado
Taveras, CF
Helton, 1B
Holliday, LF
Atkins, 3B
Spilborghs, RF
Baker, DH
Barmes, 2B
Torrealba, C
Tulowitzki, SS

Detroit
:curtis: Granderson, CF
Thomas, RF
Guillen, 3B
Cabrera, 1B
:thames: Thames, LF
:sheff: Sheffield, DH
:edgar: Renteria, SS
:dane: Sardinha, C
:hollimon: Hollimon, M, 2B

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74 degrees at game time; Chance of scattered storms in the afternoon. Breezy; Winds West 10-15 mph

I think we might win this game and I don't say that often!

If I could, I bet money on the Tigers to win!

I agree....I smell a Sweep!!!!

adding my righteous bunny and cat to the agreement! SWEEP 'EM BOYS

I'll be at the game today!

Sorry I haven't been around alot lately, this summer has gotten very busy and my new job has me on the go!

Hope everyone is well and I'll be back more often once life is back to normal (whatever that is!).

Enjoy rickimouse! glad UR ok!

Why can you copy past picture on here?

Blog is open. Blog away.

Blog over. Tigers win/sweep! Post here to discuss the game further.

I voted right! And I voted win!

WINNING RECORD!!!!!

Now let's keep it that way next game!

June 29, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Colorado	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		3	8	0
Detroit	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	X		4	13	1

Colorado AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Taveras, CF 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .252 Helton, 1B 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 .264 Holliday, LF 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .333 Atkins, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .298 Spilborghs, RF 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 .296 Baker, DH 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .279 Barmes, 2B 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 .318 - a-Hawpe, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 Torrealba, C 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 .252 Tulowitzki, SS 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 .157 Totals 33 3 8 3 2 5 14 a-Flied out for Barmes in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Baker (15, Rogers). HR: Tulowitzki (2, 2nd inning off Rogers, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Taveras 2; Holliday 2; Baker 2; Torrealba 2; Tulowitzki 4. RBI: Torrealba (20), Tulowitzki 2 (13). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Spilborghs. GIDP: Barmes; Helton. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING CS: Taveras (4, 2nd base by Rogers/Sardinha). FIELDING DP: 3 (Tulowitzki-Barmes-Helton, Barmes-Tulowitzki-Helton, Atkins).		Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 4 1 2 0 0 0 3 .293 Thomas, RF-LF 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .333 Guillen, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 .292 Cabrera, 1B 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 .281 Thames, LF 4 1 3 1 0 0 1 .280 - 1-Joyce, PR-RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208 Sheffield, DH 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 .219 Renteria, SS 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .275 Sardinha, C 4 0 1 2 0 0 3 .125 Hollimon, M, 2B 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 .222 - Polanco, 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 Totals 34 4 13 4 1 4 18 1-Ran for Thames in the 8th. BATTING 2B: Hollimon, M (2, Reynolds). 3B: Sardinha (1, Herges). TB: Granderson 2; Thomas 2; Cabrera 2; Thames 3; Renteria 2; Sardinha 3; Hollimon, M 2. RBI: Cabrera (48), Thames (32), Sardinha 2 (2). 2-out RBI: Sardinha 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Granderson 2. GIDP: Sardinha; Guillen. Team LOB: 7. FIELDING E: Renteria (8, fielding). DP: 2 (Rogers-Sardinha-Cabrera, Cabrera-Renteria-Rogers).
Colorado IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Reynolds (L, 2-6) 5.2 10 4 4 0 3 0 5.75 Herges (BS, 4) 0.1 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.49 Grilli 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.84 Buchholz 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.36		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Rogers (W, 6-5) 6.0 8 3 3 2 2 1 4.59 Dolsi (H, 6) 2.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.47 Jones, T (S, 15) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.78
Pitches-strikes: Reynolds 90-63, Herges 11-6, Grilli 8-7, Buchholz 11-10, Rogers 98-64, Dolsi 26-18, Jones, T 12-8. Ground outs-fly outs: Reynolds 5-8, Herges 1-0, Grilli 2-1, Buchholz 0-2, Rogers 8-7, Dolsi 2-1, Jones, T 1-2. Batters faced: Reynolds 25, Herges 3, Grilli 3, Buchholz 4, Rogers 26, Dolsi 6, Jones, T 3. Inherited runners-scored: Herges 2-2. Umpires: HP: Angel Hernandez. 1B: Eric Cooper. 2B: Marty Foster. 3B: Derryl Cousins. Weather: 67 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, R to L. T: 2:45. Att: 41,305.

GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!

DISMANTLE THE TWINKIES!!!

DO IT FOR MAGGLIO!!!!

laprimamirala wrote:

DISMANTLE THE TWINKIES!!!

DO IT FOR MAGGLIO!!!!

Piece by piece, inning by inning, game by game!!!!!

Remember when we joked about trading the Mud Hens for the Tigers, so they would start winning..... that is just about what is happening!

you are right about that!

I am REALLY hyper (I just drank some Monster And I am REALLY happy

Winning record for the 1st time this year!

this winning thing is addicting!